Wild flowers face extinction

DELICATE roadside wild flowers are being ‘driven to the brink of extinction’ by plants such as brambles and nettles that thrive on exhaust fumes, according to a conservation charity.

Plantlife says ‘nitrogen-guzzling’ plants are squeezing out species such as red clover and white campion, which are important to threatened bee populations, as well as rare varieties such as fen ragwort and wood calamint.

The charity’s Dr Trevor Dines said: ‘ Our once colourful and botanically diverse road verges are becoming mean, green thickets where only thuggish species can thrive and more delicate flowers are being driven to the brink of extinction.’

Flower diversity on verges has declined by 20 per cent since 1978.